Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 | THE SOUTHERN COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRISTS INVESTED IN SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS THIS PAST YEAR, INCLUDING: - A "NEW TO THE OFFICE" SERIES WAS DEVELOPED AND OFFERED TRAINING FOR NEWLY HIRED STAFF, WITH CROSS-TRAINING FOR THE ENTIRE PRACTICE. THIS SERIES WILL ALSO BE OFFERED VIA SECO UNIVERSITY, OUR YEAR-ROUND EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM. - THE NEW 2020 "SPECS BUYER'S PROGRAM," FRAMES BUYER PROGRAM, WAS LAUNCHED AND INCLUDED 14 HOURS OF EDUCATION. - SECO 2020 FEATURED EIGHT CO-LOCATED MEETINGS DURING THE EVENT THIS PAST YEAR, EXPANDING THE OVERALL CONGRESS REGISTRANTS. THE YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PLATFORM, SECO UNIVERSITY, EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS BY PROVIDING LIVE WEBINAR CONTINUING EDUCATION SESSIONS. - OVER 50 HOURS OF LIVE WEBINARS WERE PROVIDED TO THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES. MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE REVENUE-SHARE PROGRAM EXPANDED, AND ALL THIRTEEN MEMBER STATES AND THREE INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. - IN 2020, OVER $30,000 WAS PROVIDED BACK TO PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS. THE ON-LINE EDUCATION OFFERINGS INCREASED BY 21 COPE CE HOURS IN Q4 OF 2019, AND AN ADDITIONAL 66 HOURS WERE RECENTLY COMPLETED. - THE USER BASE IS GROWING EACH MONTH, AND THE CONVERSION FROM ON-LINE USERS TO CONGRESS ATTENDEE GROWTH IS PARALLEL. IN REGARDS TO STUDENT FUNDING, WE PROVIDED GRANTS IN THE FORM OF $100 STIPENDS FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED OUR 2020 ANNUAL CONGRESS TO HELP OFFSET THEIR EXPENSES. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE FOUR $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS DURING THE ANNUAL SECO STUDENT SYMPOSIUM ($4,000). |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | THERE ARE TWO CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP: STATE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP. THE FOLLOWING STATE OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATIONS ARE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL: ALABAMA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. ARKANSAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. FLORIDA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. GEORGIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. KENTUCKY OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. OPTOMETRY ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA, INC. MISSISSIPPI OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. NORTH CAROLINA STATE OPTOMETRIC SOCIETY, INC. OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS, INC. SOUTH CAROLINA OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATION, INC. TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS, INC. VIRGINIA OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, INC. WEST VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS, INC. INDIVIDUAL OPTOMETRISTS WHO ARE LICENSED IN THESE MEMBER STATES MAINTAIN THEIR MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL THROUGH THEIR STATE ASSOCIATIONS, PROVIDED THAT STATE ASSOCIATION MAINTAINS MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION. (1) ANY OPTOMETRIC ORGANIZATION THAT IS A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF OPTOMETRY MAY BE CONFERRED MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL AS AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER UPON WRITTEN APPLICATION TO THE COUNCIL, AND UPON A TWO-THIRDS (2/3) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE DELEGATES PRESENT AT ANY ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO ORGANIZATION SHALL BE ADMITTED TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE COUNCIL THAT IS NOT A LEGALLY ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY WHEREIN THAT ORGANIZATION IS DOMICILED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF THE STATE TRUSTEES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE SHALL NOMINATE ONE CANDIDATE FOR EACH POSITION OF ELECTED OFFICERS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR AND SHALL NOTIFY THE SECRETARY OF THE COUNCIL, IN WRITING OR BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, OF ITS SELECTIONS NOT LESS THAN FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS PRIOR TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | A DRAFT FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THEIR REVIEW. OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES ARE REQUESTED TO REVIEW THE FORM 990 AND PROVIDE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THE TREASURER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITHIN TEN DAYS. THE TREASURER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL REVIEW AND RESOLVE ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO FILING THE FORM 990. A COPY OF THE FORM 990, AS FILED, WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT A SUBSEQUENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | UPON INITIAL APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ALL MEMBERS COMPLETE THE ORGANIZATION'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER TO ADVISE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN WRITING IF, DURING THEIR TERM IN OFFICE OR APPOINTMENT, ANY ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISES. AT EACH BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETING THE PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO VERBALLY PROVIDE ANY UPDATES SINCE SUBMITTING THE FORM. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY IS NEGOTIATED WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BEFORE BEING SIGNED INTO CONTRACT. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OTHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF OTHER 501(C)(6) ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE OPTOMETRIC PROFESSION BY REVIEW OF OTHER FORM 990S AND COMPENSATION STUDIES BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION'S BYLAWS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ARE AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, FORMS 990, AND OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: | THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT, OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT CHANGE ITS OVERSIGHT PROCESS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. |
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